Ruataniwha Nitrogen Leaching Rules to Devastate Farming

IrrigationNZ has asked
NIWA to produce a map of where Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen
levels in New Zealand fresh waterways exceed 0.8 mg per
litre – this is the limit set by Board of Inquiry in its
draft decision for the Tukituki Plan change which will
determine the future of the Ruataniwha dam. The Board has
until June 28 to make its final decision.

‘This map help
us understand what the consequences will be if this number
is set as a precedent for New Zealand’s fresh
waterways,’ says Andrew Curtis, IrrigationNZ
CEO.

Research found that all waterways in highly
productive fertile plains of the country exceeded the limit.
This was 10% of 622 sites mapped through New Zealand.

This
means that the farms which produce the bulk of New
Zealand’s food for consumption and export will be in
breach and be facing significant reductions.

‘Having to
claw back to these limits will significantly impact
production and will detrimentally affect local communities
which rely on farming and food processing industries to
provide thousands of jobs in factories,’ says
Curtis.

‘If we are to not paralyse New Zealand’s
economy in the short to medium term we need to set ourselves
up with achievable goals in regards to nutrient
management,’ he says.

‘Reducing the environmental
footprint of farming in New Zealand is critical,’ says Mr
Curtis. ‘But we need to do this in realistic ways which do
not cut the lifeline to much of New Zealand and do not
stagnate our economy.’

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